She nods, reversing the steps he'd just walked her through until the car is back in neutral again.

Nervous? Why are you nervous, Gene?

"An' I twist this thingymabobber here to start it?"




She means the key.

Which she does, in fact, twist. At least the engine is still hot enough that she doesn't need to pump the gas to keep it from stalling, but having her foot on the clutch would probably be a good idea.